.357 mag for deer?

[Stickerbush]

I was thinking of trying my handgun for deer hunting, has anybody hunted with a .357 mag? Would you have any recommendations for bullets to use? just curious if this is something worth trying, thanks

[JackOfAllTrades]

It's possible, but you need to be a pretty good shot, know your limitations, work up an accurate load with a quality bullet.

What gun?

-Steve

[Stickerbush]

umm taurus revolver, not sure of the model. 3.5 or 4 inch barrel I think. Might be kinda limiting though with the shorter barrel, I havent shot it too much to see my accurate range...

[Bob33]

umm taurus revolver, not sure of the model. 3.5 or 4 inch barrel I think. Might be kinda limiting though with the shorter barrel, I havent shot it too much to see my accurate range...

Barrel length must be at least 4" to be legal.

Big game, except cougar, may be hunted with
handguns with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches
per manufacturers specification, and fire a minimum
24 caliber centerfire cartridge.

[grundy53]

I've never actually hunted deer with soley .357 but i did dispatch a wounded deer with one ONCE. i was NOT impressed. I won't do it again.

[Stickerbush]

ahh good to know, just measured it at exactly 4''  

[724wd]

i thought in WA .41 was the minimum handgun caliber?  regs used to say 9mm, .45 auto and .357 not legal.  did they change that? 

[JackOfAllTrades]

the problem with the short barrel, you can't develope enough pressure with the powder burning down the full length of a long barrel to get enough bullet velocity for terminal energy at range.

I have taken several deer with pistol. I prefer 44mag or regard the 41 mag as minimum, but I'll admit that a 357 with the right bullet in a longer barrel with enough velocity can be a potent tool to take wild game. I have a Dan Wesson with 8" barrel with very tight fit of the forcing cone to cylinder that keeps a bit more pressure in the barrel that promotes a good 150fps more even on a hot load, that I would not hesitate to hunt the brush with, keeping shots well within 40yds.

I feel that a hand gun with at least a 6" barrel in the hands of a good shooter is OK, but a longer barrel on a revolver or a TC is better. I recall years ago I rattled the pins and screws loose on a Marlin lever gun trying to get it to shoot a hot enough 357 load to meet the then energy standards for long guns. That said, you should be able understand the limitations of that pistol round. Great at closer distance on frail humans, but a little on the weak side for wild game. I will say that I know a guy on Orcas Island that takes Blacktail with a 6" Taurus model 66 with some pretty warm loads. I do not recommend warm loading a Taurus or Smith frame. They cannot handle what you can feed a Ruger Blackhawk.

If you must though... Any handgun hunter should be able to hit a 5 inch pie plate at 50yds off hand with/without scope consecutively with 6 shots any time challenged. You would want to be able to hit your target kill zone with the first shot, then be able to have at least one followup shot placed with the skill of a surgeon.

Those of you with scoped hand cannons of the 454, 460, 500 cal or TC's with rifle cartridges will be able to take game at longer distances... with practice.  

As for minimum cal... I do believe its left up to the conservation officer in the field to determine whether the handgun/cartridge is adequate. I believe that the minimum .240 cal still applies.  (6mm or 243 in a TC)

-Steve

[Bob33]

i thought in WA .41 was the minimum handgun caliber?  regs used to say 9mm, .45 auto and .357 not legal.  did they change that? 

Yes.

[Stickerbush]

the problem with the short barrel, you can't develope enough pressure with the powder burning down the full length of a long barrel to get enough bullet velocity for terminal energy at range.

I have taken several deer with pistol. I prefer 44mag or regard the 41 mag as minimum, but I'll admit that a 357 with the right bullet in a longer barrel with enough velocity can be a potent tool to take wild game. I have a Dan Wesson with 8" barrel with very tight fit of the forcing cone to cylinder that keeps a bit more pressure in the barrel that promotes a good 150fps more even on a hot load, that I would not hesitate to hunt the brush with, keeping shots well within 40yds.

I feel that a hand gun with at least a 6" barrel in the hands of a good shooter is OK, but a longer barrel on a revolver or a TC is better. I recall years ago I rattled the pins and screws loose on a Marlin lever gun trying to get it to shoot a hot enough 357 load to meet the then energy standards for long guns. That said, you should be able understand the limitations of that pistol round. Great at closer distance on frail humans, but a little on the weak side for wild game.

If you must though... Any handgun hunter should be able to hit a 5 inch pie plate at 50yds off hand with/without scope consecutively with 6 shots any time challenged. You would want to be able to hit your target kill zone with the first shot, then be able to have at least one followup shot placed with the skill of a surgeon.

Those of you with scoped hand cannons of the 454, 460, 500 cal or TC's with rifle cartridges will be able to take game at longer distances... with practice.  

As for minimum cal... I do believe its left up to the conservation officer in the field to determine whether the handgun/cartridge is adequate. I believe that the minimum .240 cal still applies.  (6mm or 243 in a TC)

-Steve

good to know, thanks

[724wd]

i thought in WA .41 was the minimum handgun caliber?  regs used to say 9mm, .45 auto and .357 not legal.  did they change that? 

Yes.

so i've read!  i just checked and of course you're right.  when did they change it?  and why?  my .380 in a 4" barrel is now legal?  a .25?  the .41 rule kinda made sense to me, but .24 in a pistol doesnt seem right...

[Bob33]

i thought in WA .41 was the minimum handgun caliber?  regs used to say 9mm, .45 auto and .357 not legal.  did they change that? 

Yes.

so i've read!  i just checked and of course you're right.  when did they change it?  and why?  my .380 in a 4" barrel is now legal?  a .25?  the .41 rule kinda made sense to me, but .24 in a pistol doesnt seem right...

I think the change was made about 10 years ago.  There used to even be a minimum energy threshhold.  Now it's simply .24 caliber, 4" barrel.  Yes, a 4" .25 caliber is now legal on elk!

[724wd]

wow.   

[JackOfAllTrades]

my .380 in a 4" barrel is now legal?

Not in writing.. You'll surely get a citation if caught hunting with that.  There's verbage somewhere that says something to the affect that the weapon used needs to be adequate for the game hunted.

-Steve

[high country]

well,  I can say that the 44mag will knock them flat. I would be fine taking a comfy shot with the 357..........but choose your bullets wisely.